The immediate past governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji has expressed hope that the Supreme Court would restore Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of the state.
Reacting to the Court of Appeal judgment, which sacked Ikpeazu as the governor and declared Dr. Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, as winner of the April 2015 governorship election, Orji said the verdict was disappointing to Abia people, but expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would reverse the verdict.
“But there is the Supreme Court which is the last point of the judicial exercise in this matter,” he said.
Orji, who spoke to newsmen, in Umuahia, also expressed his respect for the judiciary as the last hope of any politician’s political career.
“Since I joined politics, the judiciary has always been there for me from 2007-2011 as governor and even now as senator, as they (court) have always authenticated my mandate whenever my opponents drag me to the court.
“I don’t see any difference in this case of Ikpeazu versus Otti case, as some people want to be governor at all cost, simply because they have some money, but money is not everything in politics,” Orji said.
He expressed joy that the governorship election matter does not end at the Court of Appeal but up to the Supreme Court.
“It is a place where men of integrity, who take their time on such matter and I am sure that Ikpeazu will be returned as duly elected,” he said.
Not satisfied with some judgments of some courts, Orji said that the judiciary was supposed to enhance democracy for the good of the country and its people, “however, this time around, the judiciary at the Court of Appeal has decided to turn democracy upside down.”
